Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Cook is an average Republican member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Republican Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Cook has worked as an instructor at Copper Mountain College and the University of California, Riverside.

He is a member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Red Cross, Saint Mary's Catholic Church, United Way, Veterans of Foreign Wars and former Executive Director of the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce.[2]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Cook's academic, professional and political career:[3]

1966: Graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a B.S.

1966-1992: United States Marine Corps

1996: Graduated from California State University-San Bernardino with a M.P.A.

1998-2006: Member of Yucca Valley, California, town council

2000: Graduated from the University of California-Riverside with a M.A.

Issues

Legislative actions

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[5] For more information pertaining to Cook's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[6]

National security

NDAA

Cook voted for HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[7]

DHS Appropriations

Cook voted for HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines.[8]

CISPA (2013)

Cook voted for HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[9]

Economy

Farm bill

On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[10] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[11][12] However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[12] Cook voted with 62 other Republicanrepresentatives against the bill.

2014 Budget

On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[13][14] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.[14] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[15] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency and protected the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Cook voted with the majority of the Republican party in favor of the bill.[13]

Government shutdown

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[16] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[17] Cook voted for the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[18]

The shutdown finally ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funds the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[19] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Cook voted for HR 2775.[20]

2013 Farm Bill

In July 2013 the Republican controlled House narrowly passed a scaled-back version of the farm bill after stripping out the popular food-stamp program.[21][22] The bill passed on a 216-208 vote, with no Democrats voting in favor.[23] All but 12 Republicans supported the measure.[24] The group consisted mostly of conservative lawmakers more concerned about spending than farm subsidies.[24][25] Cook was one of the 12 who voted against the measure.[24]

The farm bill historically has included both billions in farm subsidies and billions in food stamps. Including both of the two massive programs has in the past helped win support from rural-state lawmakers and those representing big cities.[23] After the bill failed in the House in June 2013 amid opposition from rank-and-file Republicans, House leaders removed the food stamp portion in a bid to attract conservative support.[23]

Federal Pay Adjustment Act

Cook voted for HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013, with a vote of 261 - 154. The bill would prevent a 0.5% pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect, saving the federal government $11 billion over 10 years.[26]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Cook voted for House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States.[27] The vote largely followed party lines.[28]

Healthcare

Healthcare Reform Rules

Cook voted for House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires that all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[29]

Social issues

Abortion

Cook voted for HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill is to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.[30]

Legislative scorecard

Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[31][32]

On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Cook ranked as a 9.[33]

Campaign themes

2012

Excerpt: "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does. Too often, government gets in the way of job creation. We can get this economy moving again by simplifying the tax code; lowering taxes; encouraging investment; getting wasteful spending under control; developing energy resources in America; and reducing government red tape and bureaucracy."

Tax Reform

Excerpt: "We need fundamental tax reform immediately. Our current system is too complicated and is a drain on the US economy. I support replacing our current code with one that is simple, fair, and reduced. I will oppose any increases in taxes, and I will oppose any new taxes. "

The Budget & Debt

Excerpt: "The national debt of the US is out of control, having risen to over $15 trillion dollars. This fiscal crisis now threatens even our national security. We must act today to ensure our nation's strength and economic vitality today and for the future. "

National Defense

Excerpt: "America's Armed Forces must be ready to face threats to freedom and democracy, both today and tomorrow. Congress should give them the tools necessary to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions, face down extremists and fanatics worldwide, and stand strong with Israel."

Life

Excerpt: "I have always been pro-life, and I always will be. I am against abortion. I am also in support of requiring parental notification before an underage abortion. A child contemplating an abortion needs the moral advice of a parent, not only for the sake of the unborn but for her sake as well."

2010

Cook won re-election to the 65th District Seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the June 8 primary. He then defeated Democrat Carl Wood in the November 2 general election.[37]

California State Assembly, District 65 General Election (2010)

Candidates

Votes

Paul Cook (R)

78,475

Carl Wood (D)

57,212

2008

In 2008 Cook was re-elected to the California State Assembly District 65. Cook (R) finished with 93,566 votes while his opponent Carl Wood (D) finished with 82,305 votes.[38]

California State Assembly District 65

Candidates

Votes

Paul Cook (R)

93,566

Carl Wood (D)

82,305

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Cook is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, Cook raised a total of $590,514 during that time period. This information was last updated on March 22, 2013.[39]

2012

Breakdown of the source of Cook's campaign funds before the 2012 election.

Cook won election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Cook's campaign committee raised a total of $590,514 and spent $564,481.[49] This is less than the average $1.5 million spent by House winners in 2012.[50]

2006

In 2006, Cook ran a hard-fought primary battle against Jim Ayers. Ayers spent $591,675 in his unsuccessful primary campaign that was the source of some allegations. In 2009, federal prosecutors indicted Ayers and others for what they say were financial irregularities related to campaign contributions in this primary election.[53]

Analysis

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[54]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Cook missed 2 of 89 roll call votes from January 2013 to March 2013. This amounts to 2.2%, which is equal to the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.[55]

Net worth

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Cook's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $529,016 and $1,212,000. That averages to $870,508, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2012 of $7,614,097.96. Cook ranked as the 223rd most wealthy representative in 2012.[56]

Paul Cook Yearly Net Worth

Year

Avg. Net Worth

% Difference from previous year

2012

$870,508

-10.67%

2011

$974,508

N/A

Voting with party

2013

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Cook has voted with the Republican Party 96.7% of the time. This ranked 142nd among the 233 House Republicans as of June 2013.[57]

Personal

Cook has a wife, Jeanne.

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